Last night (Monday), a video tribute to Jimmy Carter was played and the ex-president was allowed to wave from the podium. He was "acknowledged," but not allowed to speak. What gives? The Democratic Dogcatcher from Podunk, Iowa was given 3 minutes, but not Jimmy Carter?

I was looking forward to hear what Jimmy Carter had to say. I was a "radical activist" college student when Carter was President and was opposed to many of the "conservative" policies he carried out. When Ted Kennedy dared to challenge his re-nomination, I was a Kennedy supporter, though not active with the Party. (Well, not active with THIS party.)

But I have come to regard him as the best ex-President of my lifetime. And compared to the other Democratic ex-president, a man of humility, integrity and personal courage.

DIARY UPDATED: with additional information acquired via Google!

I was a delegate at the 2004 Convention. We heard all the speakers were required to submit their speeches in advance for prior vetting. The rumor going around was that Jimmy Carter had refused, saying something like, "I'm Jimmy Carter and I will not allow you to tell me what I can and cannot say." When Carter spoke, it was polite, alm, but firm and morally unabiguous. He warned that the Bush Administration had undermined America's credibility around the world and imperiled our alliances with our aggressive militarism. Apparently, his speech was too honest and he was considered to be "off-message" by the DLC control freaks who managed the Convention. Carter's 2004 speech can be found here:WaPo: Carter's 2004 speech

(Al Sharpton dutifully submitted the text of his speech to the censors, but "strayed from his notes" during his delivery and delivered the most pointed condemnation of the Bush policies heard in Boston. It was great!)

Perhaps Carter again refused to submit his speech for prior approval and Obama's manager's barred him from speaking? Perhaps it was recognized that Jimmy Carter is not willing to remain silent when he sees serious flaws in America's policies? Perhaps it is because he has become the most credible American critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people and Obama wants to send a clear statement to AIPAC and the Israel Lobby that he is now fully onboard and trustworthy?

ANOTHER UPDATE: A Google search reveals the Obama campaign received pressure from hard-line "pro-Israel" groups to bar Carter from speaking.

Here is a sample of their argument:

Dear Senator Obama and Chairman Dean:

We are writing to express our profound disappointment at the decision to add former President James Carter to the list of speakers at next week's Democratic National Convention. We ask that you rescind President Carter's invitation to address the convention in Denver.

Over the past several years, President Carter has repeatedly and relentlessly undermined Israel's position on the world stage. He has blatantly disregarded the standard code of conduct on issues related to international affairs, always to the detriment of Israel and its citizens. Affording Mr. Carter a prime speaking engagement on the Democrats' brightest stage is an affront to the State of Israel, and to all American Zionists, whether they are Christians or Jews.

Source:Jewish Group Calls On Obama To Cancel Carter Convention Speech

And here is Marty Peretz in his column a few days ago:

Were you wondering whether Jimmy Carter will also speak? You don't have to wonder any more. He will. Maybe they will edit his speech beforehand. But he's sneaky enough to deliver the words he wrote whether they do or don't. Will he mention Israel, attacks on which is how he makes his living these days?

I am not going to the convention. I will be doing some surrogate speaking, however, and I will mention Israel.

Source:Marty Peretz's New Republic Column

Of course, Marty Peretz cannot be said to be an influential voice of the Israel Lobby. What about ADL President, Abe Foxman:

Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman said in a phone interview that he wished Carter wasn't speaking, but "I don't think there's an option not to provide a platform for a former president." He hoped the "Democratic leadership would use the opportunity [of Carter's appearance] to distance themselves" from the former president's "biased view of the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Source:Jewish Telegraph Agency article

The apparent decision to have Carter remain silent was apparently not enough to satisfy all of Carter's "pro-Israel" critics, however:

New Jersey Jews snub Jimmy Carter -- The Star-Ledger

DENVER-- Former President Jimmy Carter may have been a crowd pleaser to much of the audience at the Democratic National Convention Monday night, but-- as the old saying goes-- you can't please all the people all the time.

Steven Goldstein, a former top aide to Gov. Jon Corzine and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, led a small group of Jewish delegates from New Jersey in refusing to stand or applaud the ex-president.

"He's a repulsive human being," said Goldstein, the chairman of gay-rights group Garden State Equality and a rabbinical student. "He's an anti-Semite. He's anti-Jewish. He negotiates with Hamas terrorists. He's an utter plague on the Democratic Party."

It has been suggested I am making something out of nothing, indulging in baseless speculation. Here is how the JTA reported on Carter's appearance:

For Jimmy Carter, it was Katrina, not the Middle East.

Democrats were determined not to allow the former president to spoil their Denver party with talk of evenhanded policies in the Middle East. No mention, please, of "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," the book whose title set off a firestorm in the pro-Israel community.

So they screened a video of Carter's work helping to rebuild homes in Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Then Carter did a quick live stage stroll holding wife Rosalynn's hand to a standing ovation and retreated without a word.
The deal was done: A Democratic convention without a difficult Carter moment.

JTA, Aug 26th

Jimmy Carter, ever the gentleman, and determined to help Obama win the presidency, minimized what others are seeing as a significant snub:

DENVER -- Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that it was his choice not to speak live from the podium at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention and to instead film a video about the recovery in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina.

In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carter said he saw the challenge Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama had with trying to accommodate a busy podium schedule.

He said he told Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod "to let me do whatever I could to be helpful. I didn't need to get on the stage and make a speech."

Well, given the pressure from the hardline Israel Lobby, in this case, being "helpful" meant not speaking and staying focused on Katrina. Carter obliged. I respect his decision.

But we are not obliged to swallow the story that President Carter did not speak because "there was not enough time."

Just unbelievable.